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Monthly Archives: May 2018

Petrol and diesel prices across the country were raised for the eleventh consecutive day today with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) passing on the increase in international fuel prices to the consumers. This follows the 19-day price freeze initiated by OMCs before the Karnataka polls.
Price of non-branded petrol in Delhi soared to Rs 77.47 per litre today, the highest price recorded in Delhi’s history, and a 30 paise per litre hike over Wednesday’sprice. The previous high for petrol price in Delhi was Rs 76 per liter in September 2013 when crude oil prices were hovering around $108-115 per barrel. Similarly, diesel prices in the national capital soared to Rs 68.53 per litre today, the highest recorded ever.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday at a press briefing argued that fuel taxes were necessary for country’s development. “As far as fuel prices are concerned, including the excise duty or other taxes thereupon, they are very clearly used for country’s development, for constriction of more national highways, more roads, more digital infrastructure, taking energy to those villages which were without energy for last so many years,” he said.
The price of Petrol has peaked at record levels in other metro cities too, including Rs 85.29 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 80.42 in Chennai and Rs 80.12 per litre in Kolkata. Price of every litre of non-branded diesel has also peaked at Rs 72.96 in Mumbai, Rs 72.35 in Chennai and Rs 71.08 in Kolkata.
Prasad added, “In view of the uncertainty in the crude prices globally, a new sense of urgency has developed. The govt is keen that instead of having an ad-hoc measure, it is desirable to have a long-term view that addresses not only the volatility but also takes care of the unnecessary ambiguity arising out of frequent ups and downs.”

Meanwhile the price of crude oil in the international market is crashing and now as on 28th May, 2018, the price per barrel is only $ 66.83.

Strong protest demonstrations and rallies are being organised in many places by the opposition parties. (News Report)

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It is a commendable record of the Kerala LDF government has give job to 70,000 youths through Public Service Commission. It has created 13,000 new jobs during these two years. This is when the Corporates and the Central government are retrenching workers / not filling up vacancies. The Kerala Road transport Corporation which was on huge loss is being restored to its past glory. Government has allotted sufficient funds for its restoration and also for payment of pension.

Kerala is the only state, in which there is no suicide by kisan. Lakhs of kisan have committed suicide all over India during this period.

Kerala is on the path of great development. The government is committed to the growth of the state.

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Petrol and diesel prices across the country were raised for the eleventh consecutive day today with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) passing on the increase in international fuel prices to the consumers. This follows the 19-day price freeze initiated by OMCs before the Karnataka polls.
Price of non-branded petrol in Delhi soared to Rs 77.47 per litre today, the highest price recorded in Delhi’s history, and a 30 paise per litre hike over Wednesday’sprice. The previous high for petrol price in Delhi was Rs 76 per liter in September 2013 when crude oil prices were hovering around $108-115 per barrel. Similarly, diesel prices in the national capital soared to Rs 68.53 per litre today, the highest recorded ever.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday at a press briefing argued that fuel taxes were necessary for country’s development. “As far as fuel prices are concerned, including the excise duty or other taxes thereupon, they are very clearly used for country’s development, for constriction of more national highways, more roads, more digital infrastructure, taking energy to those villages which were without energy for last so many years,” he said.
The price of Petrol has peaked at record levels in other metro cities too, including Rs 85.29 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 80.42 in Chennai and Rs 80.12 per litre in Kolkata. Price of every litre of non-branded diesel has also peaked at Rs 72.96 in Mumbai, Rs 72.35 in Chennai and Rs 71.08 in Kolkata.
Prasad added, “In view of the uncertainty in the crude prices globally, a new sense of urgency has developed. The govt is keen that instead of having an ad-hoc measure, it is desirable to have a long-term view that addresses not only the volatility but also takes care of the unnecessary ambiguity arising out of frequent ups and downs.”

Strong protest demonstrations and rallies are being organised in many places by the opposition parties. (News Report)

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Pinarayi Vijayan led Kerala LDF government has completed two years in office. Within these two years many of the election promises have been fulfilled by the government. Secular traditions are kept intact. Whether it is the case of international standard education, health care and hospital facilities, Social justice, improvement in agriculture, home for the homeless, Development at all levels, women safety, pension to all senior citizens etc. etc., Kerala stands first in the country. More than 70,000 new jobs have been created and filled up. 12 of the loss making PSUs have been made profitable during these two years. Others are on the line. Awards have been received from the central government as also international institutions for the best law and order, least corruption, Best administration etc. Yes, the LDF government is marching ahead implementing its poll assurances, one after another.

Congratulation to the LDF government on completing two years of successful pro-people activities!

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NITI Ayog has now recommended selling of MTNL as also forming a separate ‘Subsidiary Tower Company’ by hiving of the towers of the MTNL. The recommendation as reported in the Times of India (26-05-2018) is reproduced below:

“The panel (NITI Aayog), headed by economist Rajiv Kumar has also recommended that government should begin selling assets in MTNL, once a top state-run company, which is now the third-biggest loss maker behind BSNL and Air India. The proposal is to hive off the telecom PSU’s towers into a separate company and sell off the entity. An outright stake sale has not been proposed, given the large real estate holdings.”

Demolishing the Planning Commission, which has been the instrument for planning the developments of the country, the Modi government had constituted NITI Ayog for the demolition of the PSUs. The latter is doing its work well by recommending the closure or privatisation of the PSUs one after another. BSNL, the biggest loss making PSU as per the above reference of NITI Ayog, is certainly in its list for closure / privatisation, but the united protest of the workers has made it to keep the secret within itself.

The danger of privatisation is hanging on the heads of the workers of the BSNL and MTNL. The entire workers of these two Telecom PSUs, the executives, the non-executives and the top management of ITS officers should join together to save the companies and themselves. The danger is real and imminent. The corporates and MNCs are pressing for the closure/privatisation of BSNL and MTNL which are the obstruction and block for their increasing the charges for telecom services, as the increase in the petrol/ diesel prices. A massive campaign through out the country is required, the support of the common people is important and mighty united struggle required to defeat the nefarious plan of the government.

Then E.III (N) Union and a few other unions put strong protest and went on strike several times against corporatisation of telecom services. It warned the workers that corporatisation is the first step towards privatisation. This is coming to be true. The only way is the united struggle of the entire workers including the ITS officers. Privatisation or closure will result in a bleak future for every body, including the new recruits.

‘Do or Die’ is the slogan. United struggle is our weapon. BSNL workers will fight and defeat the ill-motived pro-corporate decision of the Modi Government.

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During the earlier UDF Government almost all the PSUs in Kerala had become loss making and decline. Some were proposed to be closed. But during the two year period of the LDF government some of them have become profitable and all are on the way for better performance. As per he latest reports 14 out of the 42 PSUs have become profitable. The Pinarayi Government has offered to take over the Central PSUs in Kerala, which the central government want to hand over to the private corporates.

The Modi Government is the Destroyer of PSUs, while Pinarayi Government is the Protector of the PSUs!

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The Modi Government has once again shown its enmity to the ordinary people and also its affinity to the corporates. The sky rocketing price rise of petrol and diesel, which has crossed Rs. 80 for petrol is a cruel joke on the common people. Increase in petrol price will increase the price of all commodities. The election promise of the BJP that it will reduce the petrol price has been thrown to the winds and instead, it is increasing every day. During the last four years, the price have almost doubled. Modi government has once again proved that it is on the side of the corporates and against the common people.

Strong mass protest actions should arise against this cruelty to the people.

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The Strike called by the GDS Unions and Postal unions continues for the fifth day. The only demand raised is the favourable implementation of the Kailash Chandra Commission report on the service and wage conditions of the Gramin Dak Sevaks numbering about three lakhs and who are manning more than 1,29,500 Post Offices through out the country and providing yeomen services to the rural and urban population. The GDS have to work for the whole day, but are not paid even the minimum wages ordered by the Chief Labour Commissioner. Many of them are treated as part-time, although they are compelled to work whole day, because of the duty arrangements. They are denied pension. If the favourable recommendations of the Kailash Chandra Committee are implemented, they will get some benefits. But he BJP government is taking a negative attitude and despite the fact that the recommendations were submitted in November 2016,it is not implemented.

The strike is fully justified. National and International trade unions, including World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) have extended support and solidarity to the struggle and demanded the government of India to concede the demands and settle the strike.

We demand the central government to immediately discuss and settle the issues. We fully extend solidarity and support to the struggle of the GDS and Postal workers.

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The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) is consistently conducting struggles, demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company. The question of taking recourse to legal action, against the Subsidiary Tower Company, was discussed in the meetings of the AUAB. Finally, in the meeting held on 08.05.2018, after threadbare discussion, the AUAB decided to file a case in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. Due to certain tactical reasons, it was decided that the case shall be filed in the name of the Executive Associations, and that all the constituents of the AUAB shall extend financial support. Accordingly, the case has been filed, and it came up for hearing today in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. The Hon’ble Court admitted the case, and it also stated that the operation of the Subsidiary Tower Company shall be subject to the out come of this case. The next hearing of the case will take place on 25.09.2018.(courtesy: BSNLEU)

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New Delhi, May 23: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the police firing on people protesting against the Sterlite Copper Industry in Thoothukudi, Tamilnadu, which has led to the death of twelve people and injuries to over a hundred. The brutality of the state police is revealed by the fact that many of those killed and injured have bullet injuries on their heads and faces.

The protests arose because of the inadequate response of the state administration to the genuine apprehensions of the people concerning air, water and ground contamination. The Polit Bureau demands that plant should be shut down immediately. The state government should hold talks with all stakeholders.

All those responsible for this merciless shooting down of protesters should be held accountable and immediate legal proceedings should be launched against them. The enquiry announced to probe these brutal killings should be headed by a sitting judge of the Madras High Court.